Recently I opened my blog to moderate comments on a post titled “Was Mary A Virgin?” Suddenly, I was being accused of “slut-shaming” for using the word virgin. What!? It wasthe VIRGIN Mary who I was writing about! The comments—including “This is slut shaming… Wrapped up in a pretty package” and “Such dialogue and scrutiny over a woman’s virginity (aka ‘purity’) only feeds into patriarchal-based slut shaming”—were just the crest of a wave of frustration I’ve heard all year long as those following me lament that the language of sexual purity is out of style. The big claim? The word purity has no efficacy. So, let’s put it on trial today and see where we land because as a leader in the Christian sexual theology conversation, I want to know: do you think we should stop using the word purity? But here’s the deal. The debate—which I expect may get heated— must lean first and foremost on the truth of sexuality as defined in the Bible, not the opinions of men and woman. What’s a good day in court without an opening argument? Here’s my three defenses of the word purity.

“We can determine with certainty that the virgin Mary was, in fact, not a virgin,” wrote one self-declared atheist. His was one of many blog posts and articles I found debunking the “myth” of Mary’s miraculous conception. Admittedly, some of the articles I read on this topic were written by respected religious scholars… even those published in Pulitzer Prize winning journals. A Christian pursuing an intelligent faith simply must stop to consider how incredibly ludicrous it is to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin. Yes, I said “ludicrous!” Fact: it’s not scientifically possible for a virgin to give birth. If the hair on the back of your neck is standing on end, relax. I’m going to offer you some intelligent faith-food to defend Mary’s virtue. Here are two fallacies unbelievers and even believers are embracing as evidence that Mary was not a virgin, and the logic to debunk them.

“There are probably more vicious white supremacists all over America today than there were in 1968 when Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed in Memphis, Tennessee.” I read that sentence one month before Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, and it ignited something in my spirit so passionate that my pen became a sword in my hand as I scribbled words of war in the very pages where I found it. I don’t know who wrote more words on that page: John Piper (whose book I was reading) or myself. I only know that since July my spirit has been awakened to address the racial division in my world, but I’m afraid.

Our nation is ablaze.

The combustible matter of hearts wounded by racism has been kindled into fury. What could I possibly have to contribute? Here’s what I have to say: racism is a strike at the the heart of God’s intention for marriage.

Roughly forty six percent of high school students will engage in sexual intercourse before they graduate.[i]There is almost no difference in the percentage of students inside the church and those outside the church. Shouldn’t there be? This risky behavior is compounded by the fact that starting to have sex early equals a lot of sexual partners. The average number of partners a sexually active college girl has is 7.1. [ii] This increases the number of people to whom she becomes physiologically and spiritually bonded to, and decreases her ability to bond well with her spouse in future years.

Do you want to lead teen girls through a bible study so they can land on the right side of these stats? Do you deeply desire that your own daughter walk in sexual purity? We have a brand new resource to help you and it’s FREE. Let me tell you about it:

You have a battle ahead. To live a life of purity in this world will not be easy. The rhetoric will hurt you. Boys will hurt you. Even friends will turn on you. You’ll be accused of “repression” and “small-mindedness.” When you defend your virginity, you’ll be called “frigid.” Your sexuality may even be questioned. Sometimes you’ll be fighting the battle alone when everyone else is at the party.

It’ll get lonely.

That’s why today I want to challenge you to pick your fight! What I have to say is not for the faint of heart, so just close this page right now if you don’t have what it takes to fight FOR Jesus…and FOR yourself. But if you’re in for the win, read on.

Through our Sexual Theology and Healing Leadership Acceleration Program for Women, we seek to accelerate the sexual theology, teaching, coaching and healing capabilities of female leaders through collaboration and education to carry God’s truth and healing throughout the world. Pure Freedom will provide mentorship to a limited number of approved applicants in our Leader Acceleration Program for Women who desire to collaborate with others. This event is by invitation only. If you’d like to attend, please email eileen@purefreedom.org for more[...]